Why was the F-14 retired?

Originally posted by INeedHelp

Originally posted by galm 1
I believe that the F-14 should not have been retired for at least a couple of years.

Why?

the best fighters of the USAF, are being fased out by the F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F/A-18 Hornet.

F-14s were never flown by the USAF, and F-18s will never be.

It was also a grammer error, Sorry everbody.

Originally posted by BlueRaja
But how much more in terms of avionics could you fit into the F-14 though, and if they'd been armed with the AAAM, that'd be a very potent A2A platform- (you can fit a much bigger AESA in the nose of the F-14). All that's hypothetical, but the range and payload would still be superior in any event.

Whats the point? The Super Hornet was designed form the ground up with new technology, it's not just the radar and missiles. It's avionics and sensors suite would still be more advanced than any upgraded F-14, some systems you can't just add on unless you originally integrated them into the design. The Super Hornet would still be more maneuverable and stealthy than any F-14. As for payload, the Rhino has 11 wepaons stations compared to 6, it can carry over 17,000 lb compared to 13,000 for the Tomcat. Also, the Hornet has a much larger wepaons inventory. It can carry virtually any available munition in the US arsenal, the Tomcat's arsenal was much more limited in comparison. At the end of the day you would still have an old and worn out airframe that has outlived it's purpose and usefulness.

Will they keep upgrading the F-18 until it falls apart like the F-14 or will they replace it with the F-35 immediately?

They'll keep upgrading until they break. By then the Navy should have mostly F-35s.

The F-35C will only replace the older and less capable F/A-18C/D versions, the E/F models will fly alongside the F-35 for a long time to come. And they are already being upgraded to the Block II+ and eventually Block III standard.

Originally posted by mojoberg

Originally posted by galm 1
The F-14 Tomcat is a great fighter. I will admit that it is falling apart, but it is a classic. It would cost a lot of money to upgrade the jet, but the point is that it can still be upgrade to a certain point. I think that it should be retiered, but in about 2 years to get the F/A-18 force fully operational on all aircraft carriers.

what was the f14s combat record?
why was it such a great aircraft? Its seems to me that it is Hollywood that had made it a great aircraft

The combat record of the F-14 is much more impressive than that of the F/A-18. Below are the scores in air combat


F-14 Tomcat


Air victories: 134 + 1 missile

09.1980 F-14A (USN) - 1 x F-4E (Iran)
7.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mi-25 (Irak)
14.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
23.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21 (Irak)
- 2 x MiG-23 (Irak)
24.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
5.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
- 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
2.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23MS (Irak)
12.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
13.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
18.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
20.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
22.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
25.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
26.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
29.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 4 x MiG-23MLA (Irak)
- 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)
10.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
21.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
27.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
2.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
10.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
22.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x fighter (Irak)
30.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
7.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
29.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
21.04.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
15.05.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
19.08.1981 F-14A (USN) - 2 x Su-22 (Libya)
22.10.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
11.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
12.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
21.07.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
16.09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
10.10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
7.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
21.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
1.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
4.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Irak)
21.01.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
28.07.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
6.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
31.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)
09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)
10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
25.02.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)
- 2 x fighter (Irak)
1.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
25.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)
6.04.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Tu-22B (Irak)
26.07.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Super Etendard (Irak)
03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-27 (Russia)
26.03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)
15.02.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
14.03.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage 5SDE (Egypt)
12.07.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)
3.09.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
7.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)
24.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
18.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
20.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
24.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
- 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
24.06.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x SA321 (Irak)
29.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
31.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
11.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)
15.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
9.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
15.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
16.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
25.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Xian B-6D (Irak)
- 1 x C601 missile (Irak)
1.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)
3.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)
18.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
19.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RBS (Irak)
20.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
22.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
24.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
4.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
15.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.06.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
4.01.1989 F-14A (USN) - 2 x MiG-23 (Libya)
6.02.1991 F-14A (USN) - 1 x Mi-17 (Irak)


Losses in air to air combat: 5

12.1980 MiG-21bis (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
11.08.1984 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
17.01.1987 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
19.07.1988 Mirage F1EQ (Irak) - 2 x F-14A (Iran)



F/A-18 Hornet


Air victories: 2

17.01.1991 F/A-18C (USN) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)


Losses in air to air combat: 1

17.01.1991 MiG-25PDS (Irak) - 1 x F/A-18C (USN)

A comparison between F-14 and F/A-18, an article where you can find also comments from pilots

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